VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – On December 25th, we celebrate Christmas. But tonight, one group is celebrating Keithmas.

The eighth annual fundraiser honours Keith Richards, a founding member of the Rolling Stones, who turns 74 on Monday.

So far, $40,000 has been raised for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank to date.

“Basically, the set-up is, you get 15 minutes and you pack as much Keith or Stones-related songs into the set that you play and we make sure the bands don’t repeat songs,” explains James Hayden, who is one of the Keithmas organizers.

So what does the rock star guitarist of the Stones think of this?

“As far as I know he does not actually know that this event exist,” Hayden tells NEWS 1130. “[But] we would really like him to know his birthday is helping out the local foods banks in and around the Greater Vancouver area.”

There are nine acts on the bill at the Rickshaw on Hastings this year, including Pointed Sticks, Rich Hope and the Evil Doers.

“What rap did that was impressive was to show there are so many tone-deaf people out there,” he says. “All they need is a drum beat and somebody yelling over it and they’re happy. There’s an enormous market for people who can’t tell one note from another.” - Keef